PROGRESS LN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1938 79 
In the Mount Rainier section studies of glacier waters were con- 
tinued. In addition to making observations on the three major 
glacier fields, Nisqually, Puyallup, and Edmonds Glaciers, the party 
studied a large number of streams receiving glacier waters. After 
completing the work in the vicinity of Mount Rainier the field party 
moved over into the Columbia drainage and made extensive observa- 
tions on the Columbia River and its tributaries above and below Rock 
Island Dam. These data form parts of series collected in previous 
years which it is believed will ultimately be of service in answering 
some of the questions concerning the establishment of new salmon 
runs in these streams. 
Dr. Westfall, who carried on laboratory experiments at Columbia 
during the months of June and July, and looked after the field ma- 
terial as sent in, joined Dr. Ellis’ party at Lake Mead the second 
week in August. Enroute to Lake Mead Dr. Westfall, with field 
truck and equipment, covered various streams in northern New Mex- 
ico and Arizona. Dr. Westfall remained with the main party from 
Lake Mead to Glacier Park, then proceeded east through Montana 
and North Dakota to check water conditions in the Fort Peck Dam 
area, the headwaters of the Missouri, and at Jamestown and Valley 
City, N. Dak., where proposed hatcheries are being considered. From 
North Dakota he proceeded east through Minnesota and made an in- 
vestigation of the pollution situation on the Rainy River. 
The main field party proceeded south from Glacier Park through 
the lead district of north Idaho and the copper district of Montana 
to check observations at regular stations, thence through Yellow- 
stone Park and Wyoming, giving particular attention to streams 
from geyser fields or from heavily mineralized -districts. Reaching 
the southern Wyoming line, the party was again split so that two 
sets of streams, one across Colorado and one across Nebraska, were 
sampled by the returning parties enroute to the Columbia (Mo.) 
station. 
Because of improved apparatus and new methods used, summer 
field studies were much more detailed during 1938 than heretofore. 
Special apparatus was carried, by means of which physiological 
studies of the fish were made in the field. This innovation proved 
very successful and yielded not only valuable but also surprising 
data in many cases. It is well known that moving fish or other ani- 
mals from their natural habitat, even under the most rigid precau- 
tions, frequently results in physiological changes so that the exami- 
nation of these live animals in the laboratory often fails to give a 
true picture of their conditions in the field. With the special physi- 
ological and biochemical apparatus carried the physiological observa- 
tions and tests were made immediately at the stream in which the 
fish were living. It is believed that these data will supply a much 
truer picture of the physiology of our fresh water fishes than has 
hitherto been available. 4 
Summary of progress during 1938.—Studies of stream pollution 
during the past year have demonstrated more clearly than ever before 
the fact that high dilutions of many substances, introduced by man 
into streams, lakes, and reservoirs, or entering these waters from 
natural sources, have cumulative actions and seriously impair_the 
vital activities of food and game fishes. By continued action these 
substances, even though they be present in the water in very small 
